1
Enjoyable thriller with character development
==Breakdown==Background plot - 90%
Romance - 10%
Misc comedy - 0%
Background plot - Good
Romantic chemistry - Good
Misc comedy - NA
Production value - Fine
If you enjoy thrillers, this one is a solid watch. I really enjoyed the police officers. The romance is negligible. The storyline is interesting. I likely won't ever re-watch.
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The second couple stole the show
==Breakdown==Background plot - 40%
Romance - 35%
Misc comedy - 25%
Background plot - Fine
Romantic chemistry - Good
Misc comedy - Fine
Production value - Fine
I’m not sure why, but by episode 10 I was watching to find out what would happen with the second couple. Even though the two main leads were two of my favorite Cdrama actors. The main story was just really boring and I can’t quite figure out why.
The second couple got the better, more interesting story and were vastly more fascinating, layered characters.
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If you want to be entertained, it's entertaining
==Breakdown==Background plot - 45%
Romance - 45%
Misc comedy - 10%
Background plot - Fine
Romantic chemistry - Excellent
Misc comedy - Good
Production value - Not the best
Here's what you need to know:
1. The story is ridiculous with lots of plot holes and silly deus ex machina resolutions, but also keeps you guessing. It follows tropes and then subverts those tropes. If you don't mind non-sensical plot points, then this might be for you. I gave the story a generous 7 star rating because the characters' choices surprised me several times (in a good way)
2. The best part of the show is the ML. He gets progressively better with each episode and the drama is honestly worth watching just for him. Like other reviewers have said, he's consistent for the whole show.
3. The FMC will frustrate you, but she's not terrible. The actress did the best job possible with the script. That said, she was a bit of a doormat which made me sad. I didn't need her to be badass or whatever, but early on it would've been good for her to have a better reason for falling for the MMC and some self-awareness around how problematic he is. Like, fall for him, sure. But have her question how bonkers it is to fall for a guy like him.
4. You can FastForward all the scenes with the FMC's best friend, they are filler and mind-numbingly boring.
Overall, very entertaining.
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100% Worth Watching
==Breakdown==Background plot - 65%
Romance - 25%
Misc comedy - 10%
Background plot - Excellent
Romantic chemistry - Excellent
Misc comedy - Good
Production value - Meh
Basically, the main's acting/cast and story were excellent. The direction was pretty good. The production values, music, set design, etc. were just mid.
This is one of those rare dramas where the production values didn't do justice to the acting and the story. Usually, it's the other way around.
I've seen Wang Xing Yue in other dramas, but this is my first time watching anything where he's the ML. This role suited him perfectly. Even though he wasn't the primary focus of the story, I couldn't imagine anyone else in his role.
The FL was new to me and she did a great job carrying the show. I appreciated her range and steady, thoughtful performance. Her chemistry with Wang Xing Yue was pretty good, though romance seemed to be secondary to her revenge plots, which usually would've irritated me (I watch Cdramas for the romance) but I actually enjoyed this story more than I thought I would.
THE STORY: If you like revenge stories, this show is for you. The story was the best part of this drama, which is why it's such a same the production values didn't match the potential of the story. I plan to look up all the other scripts written by this author and try to watch them.
Overall, I highly recommend this show. I did fast forward sometimes, but not nearly as much as I do with most CDramas. Very little filler, engaging story, great acting, mid-production values.
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Taking into account when it was made, it's phenomenal and ahead of its time
==Breakdown==Background plot - 30%
Romance - 40%
Misc comedy - 30%
Background plot - Good
Romantic chemistry - Excellent
Misc comedy - Excellent
Production value - Good (for the time)
ADVICE: If you can step back and put yourself in 2007, this Drama was a big deal for the time and is quite beautiful. I only watched it for the first time this last year, but I made sure to not judge the script and story based on today's values. That said, watching it through the lens of today, I can understand why some people have a big problem with the premise and the female main character's actions. In a time when being gay almost anywhere in the world wasn't only dangerous but also stigmatized and perhaps even classified as a mental illness, the journey of the ML is a fascinating one, and an important one. I think, for me, it allowed me to understand why so many non-straight people really struggle with their sexuality.
But, obviously, the FML isn't a man, thus the story's direction and conflict change direction and become about her duplicity, which is fine / makes sense, but it splits the drama into two different shows. For me, this change without real resolution for Choi Han Gyul's first / internal conflict felt like a bit of a letdown, if I'm honest. Looking at the show through the lens of today, I wished the show would've explored Choi Han Gyul's realization that romantic love (for him) isn't limited by gender. He fell in love with the person first, not their gender. Admittedly, the show draws this conclusion without stating it explicitly, but I think it moved on too fast. Which is fine, I guess. But I wanted the ML and FL to have the conversation, "I fell in love with you. And I would love you if you were a man or a woman or non-binary, because it's you." That would've been a powerful message for people to see and hear and be exposed to.
I also have to call out Gong Yoo and the way he *looks at* his FML in his dramas once the character is in love with them. Cheese and crackers, this guy and his looks. I don't know how he does it, but it's like something within him flips a switch and, when he gazes at the FML's character, it's all heat and desire. How does he do that?
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Great for what it is, but the story / dialogue :-\
==Breakdown==Background plot - 25%
Romance - 65%
Misc comedy - 10%
Background plot - Meh
Romantic chemistry - Excellent
Misc comedy - Fine
Production value - pretty bad
What you need to know about my rating: the dialogue is frequently SUPER cheesy. The storyline is fine. Not good, but fine. Sometimes it's nonsensical in order to set the main characters up for maximum dramatic and tropey situations. The villains and main characters are cartoonish, but that's to be expected with a short format story.
If you can accept that the dialogue is silly and the storyline is nonsensical then you will enjoy the chemistry between the two leads, which is the main draw. Given the script, I was really impressed with their performances. They honestly didn't have much to work with.
Also, it should be noted that the OST is really good. I'm not usually a fan of the OSTs in CDramas (Love Between Fairy and Devil being the exception) but this one was really good.
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Honestly, this was just boring.
==Breakdown==Background plot - 50%
Romance - 25%
Misc comedy - 25%
Background plot - Boring
Romantic chemistry - Mid
Misc comedy - Okay
Production value - Fine
The KK team was the best part.
As with most CDramas, they broke up, and got back together, and broke up again, and got back together, and yada yada yada. I generally liked the FL, but she was a complete doormat with the boring hero, and not because she was "young." I didn't think she was "too young," I thought she was spineless and lacking in self-worth with the hero, which didn't make any sense because she came from a loving home, was brilliant and kind, and seemed to know her worth in all circumstances that didn't involve the ML. Also, it was never clear what she found attractive about him other than his looks.
Sadly, the worst part of this drama was the ML, who was straight up boring. I think he was supposed to be one of those cold / aloof male heroes-- which I usually have no problem at all with-- but he wasn't aloof, he was a snoozefest.
I did like his younger cousin, though. He was interesting, and I might give the spinoff a chance because of that character.
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Ending was rushed, but otherwise great!
==Breakdown==Background plot - 50%
Romance - 45%
Misc comedy - 5%
Background plot - Excellent
Romantic chemistry - Excellent
Misc comedy - Good
Production value - Good, not great
The last 15 minutes felt incredibly rushed, and that made me sad because up to that point this movie was SOOOO GOOOOOOD!!! This would've been best as a 4 part miniseries rather than a 1.5 hour movie. Also, the ML and his smoldering eyes were everything.
Overall, the world building and the story were fantastic and the chemistry between the two leads was lovely.
I do want to note that the script/dialogue was pretty good, but there weren't many words spoken. Most of the movie was comprised of acting without words. Lots of action, longing stares, and inner monologue. If inner monologue and a very abused heroine are a turn off for you, this one might be hard to watch.
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I blame the script
==Breakdown==Background plot - 40%
Romance - 30%
Misc comedy - 30%
Background plot - Bad
Romantic chemistry - Good
Misc comedy - Fine
Production value - Fine
The acting was great. The direction was fine. The script was a hot mess. I didn't like the premise (first of all) and then the dialogue was stilted and--honestly--dumb. Such a shame because I love both these main actors and had high hopes. If you love the actors (like me) go to Youtube and look for a highlights video of their scenes; though the dialogue is terrible, they do have a few cute scenes where there's less talking. Those are worth watching, but don't waste time on episodes of this drama (these are hours you can't get back, people!!)
For the ML, check out Business Proposal, A Time Called You, and Dr. Romantic.
For Park Bo Young, check out Strong Girl Bong Soon, Doom At Your Service, and her newest Daily Dose of Sunshine.
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It is PERFECTION
MDL needs to add a once-in-a-lifetime rating of "11 stars" because this drama would be 11 stars in every category.Everything about this show is perfection. It's so perfect, I'm actually sad, because no show will ever be this good again. And the ending. THE ENDING!! I've never watched such a satisfying ending for any show. Ever. The ending was beyond satisfying. SO GOOD. (sorry for all the random shouting, but THE ENDING!! AHHH!!!)
1. Story: PERFECTION. 11 stars. I was on the edge of my seat with every episode, I never knew what was going to happen. Do you know how difficult that is with a time-slip? With a romcom? Every trope was used and subverted at the same time. I am in awe. And the dialogue? Chef's kiss. Perfection. No line wasted. This is the very first time I've ever watched a show and was glued to my screen every moment. So many twists and turns and plot threads to weave together. The biggest twist in my opinion is at the end of episode 2. If you're not addicted to this drama after the end of episode 2, I would be shocked. SHOCKED!
2. Acting / Cast: MORE THAN PERFECTION. ∞ stars (infinite). Whatever is past perfection, that's the main couple of this show. They united the world, including Knetz, and we are all actively rooting for them to have their own HEA. The behind the scenes clips are *almost* as addictive to watch as the show, that's how amazing their chemistry is.
And the acting is so beautiful. I was fully engrossed in a time-slip, fantasy romance. I believed every minute of it and the actors sold and served. UGH! I can't say enough. I've never seen anything like this in a Kdrama before, and I've watched a lot of Kdramas.
3. Music: PERFECTION. 11 stars. In case you didn't know, the lead actor actually sung the 5 ECLIPSE OST songs and they are now on my permanent top favorite playlist. The rest of the OST is so beautiful. Other standout songs for me on the soundtrack: 'Like A Dream' by MINNIE and 'Spring Snow' by 10CM. The rest of the songs are also beautiful and so good. But the 5 ECLIPSE songs and these two are perfection.
4. Rewatch value: MORE THAN PERFECTION. ∞ stars (infinite) While it was airing, I think I re-watched the earlier episodes every week, or more than once a week. I've never done that before. Not once. And, not just that, I didn't fastforward older episodes, I watched the whole dang thing each time. And I know I'll re-watch this drama often in the future because I already miss it so much. *cries*
5. Overall: MY FAVORITE KDRAMA OF ALL TIME: My other favorites include Healer, Alchemy of Souls, and Goblin if you want an idea of what this drama is up against. This one wins, hands down.
Seriously (and sorry, not sorry) but if you don't love this drama as much as I do, I'm not sure we can be friends.
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Top C-Drama Rom Com of all time
==Breakdown==Background plot - 40%
Romance - 40%
Misc comedy - 20%
Background plot - Excellent
Romantic chemistry - Excellent
Misc comedy - Excellent
Production value - Fine
This is just so, so good. I can't believe it's not on every favorite rom com list all over this site. The story was so fresh and innovative, the themes were outstanding, but the leads' chemistry was OFF THE CHARTS. Luckily, it was a romance-focused drama, which meant we were treated to a ton of scenes with them together (episode 16 being my favorite and the cutest). And since it was only 24 episodes, there were few draggy / filler parts. I usually fast forward about 60-70% of Cdramas and only ended up fast forwarding 10-15% of this one (all of which has to do with the eldest sister's storyline with the musician, those actors had zero chemistry but the storyline seemed interesting).
Again, I have to stress how electric the chemistry was between the leads. In my top 3 C-Dramas of all time, which for me includes:
1. Love Between Fairy and Devil
2. Till the End of the Moon
3. The Romance of Tiger and Rose
I'm already planning a re-watch.
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Alchemy of Souls Season 2: Light and Shadow
2 people found this review helpful
The season was way too short, otherwise it's perfect
I was nervous when I realized the MFL was replaced due to the story progression. I wouldn't say the FL was "recast" since this actress also played the same character in the first season, but she comes back in season 2 to take center stage.First, the lead actress here is an absolute delight. I LOVED the main actress from the first season, she's one of my favorites, and I missed her funny facial expressions and sass in this season, but I didn't feel overall upset or like I missed out. In the end, and given the direction of the story, the new actress (who, I guess, isn't technically new) was phenomenal and brought her own color to the character which was neither better or worse than the original, just different.
The ML was awesome, as expected, and a bit darker in this season, which I loved. It was great to see his character mature and struggle in new ways.
The lovestory and overall story arc felt rushed, however, and that's why I had to take off a half star. If this had been 2-4 more episodes, where they spent more time building the narrative, it would've been an easy 10.
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If I wanted to be devastated, I'd watch the news.
==Breakdown==Background plot / palace intrigue - 60%
Romance - 30%
Random comedy - 10%
Background plot - Fine
Romantic chemistry - Good
Misc comedy - Fine
Production value and direction - Good
Keeping it short, but the ending ruined the whole show. I was warned not to watch Ren Jia Lun's dramas, but this one looked interesting. And, yeah, I won't be watching any more of his shows.
He's EXCELLENT by the way. I mean, he is an incredible actor and so, so good in his role. Mesmerizing. But I don't have the emotional bandwidth to be devastated by something that's supposed to be escapist and entertaining. If I wanted to be devastated, I'd watch the news.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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This drama should be entitled: "Ji Sung runs places."
==Breakdown==Background plot - 60%
Romance - 30%
Misc comedy - 10%
Background plot - Good
Romantic chemistry - Excellent
Misc comedy - Good
Production value - Great
Ji Sung runs in every episode. He runs down corridors and hallways; he runs on rooftops and in parking lots; he runs through a prison and a hospital ward. He ran a lot. I ended up skipping ahead every time he started to run because it was-- no lie-- at least 30 minutes of running over the course of 32 episodes.
THAT BEING SAID, this was quite a good show because the *only* scenes I fast-forwarded were those scenes. Ji Sung is absolutely brilliant as Dr. John. I think he's the best Kdrama actor, period. I will watch anything he's in just because he's in it because I know I'll enjoy his parts (at the very least). Lee Se Young is also always brilliant and her soulful performance was no surprise here. Their romantic chemistry was off the charts and it was a delight watching them together, fall in love. Ji Sung has this ability to stare at his co-star like he's a starving puppy and those scenes always give me the feels. I'm so glad I took the time to watch this one.
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Not terrible
==Breakdown==Background plot - 45%
Romance - 35%
Misc comedy - 20%
Background plot - Low stakes but also quite boring mostly
Romantic chemistry - Good
Misc comedy - Good
Production value - Good
I wish I liked Hwang Jung Eum's attempts at comedy more than I do. Her over the top acting choices during comedy scenes can be irritating and make me want to skip forward. That said, when she's more subtle in the heavier emotional scenes she does an absolutely stellar job. Since the show revolves around her character, it was a series of hits and misses with the show never quite finding a steady rhythm.
Park Seo Joon took a character that was pretty boring and made him someone to root for, which is a special kind of magic. I wish Park Seo Joon would go back to his rom-com roots. After seeing him in 'Kill Me, Heal Me,' 'What's Wrong with Secretary Kim,' and 'She Was Pretty,' I think his strength is rom com.
This was a character driven story, but even so the plot felt a bit empty and shallow.
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